I’ve failed twice. Not small failures—complete business shutdowns where I lost money, time, and confidence. But here’s what nobody tells you about business failure and success: sometimes you need to fail before you truly understand what it takes to win.
Let me share my story. Perhaps it’ll help you avoid some of my mistakes, or at least make you feel less alone if you’re struggling right now.
My Journey: From Two Failures to Finally Getting It Right
2014: Started my first business. I was excited, full of energy, and honestly? Pretty naive. Within a year, it collapsed.
2017: Tried again. I thought I’d learned from my mistakes. Apparently, I hadn’t learned enough. Another failure.
2023: My partner and I decided to give it one more shot with Dream Garden. This time feels different. This time, we’re actually building something that lasts.
So what changed? What did I finally understand about how to build a successful business after two complete disasters?
The Hard Truth: Success Takes Longer Than You Think
Here’s the biggest lesson I learned from business failure: you can’t rush growth.
Think about it this way. You can buy a potted plant and have flowers on your table tonight. But if you want a real garden—one with deep roots and lasting beauty—you’re looking at years of work.
When we restarted Dream Garden in 2023, I didn’t make a single dollar for the entire first year. Zero income. Just expenses piling up while I worked in the blazing sun, arranging flowers, building displays, and figuring out what actually works.
Some days, I’d be completely soaked in sweat, my hands blistered from using the tiller, as I planted row after row of flowers around our garden cottages. My back would ache. My bank account looked depressing. But I kept going.
Why Patience Is Important in Business (Even When Everyone Doubts You)
Learning from business failure taught me something uncomfortable: most people will think you’re crazy for trying again.
After my second failure in 2017, the comments started. Neighbors whispered. Even friends—people who supposedly cared about me—would say things like:
“Seriously? Again? You’re too young to understand business. You’re just jumping in without thinking. Do you even have money for coffee anymore?”
Those words stung. I’m not going to lie and pretend they didn’t hurt.
But here’s what I figured out: small-thinking people can’t see big visions. They’re not being mean on purpose. They just literally cannot imagine what you’re trying to build because they’ve never built anything themselves.
So I stopped explaining. I stopped defending my choices. I just kept working quietly, one day at a time.
And you know what? My success is now answering those doubts better than my words ever could. Dream Garden now has wooden walkways winding through colorful flower beds, a bamboo heart structure that’s become our signature photo spot, and creative decorations that bring in visitors every single week.
Rebuilding a Business After Failure: What Actually Works
If you’re rebuilding a business after failure (or starting for the first time), here’s what I wish someone had told me:
1. Patience doesn’t mean waiting around doing nothing
This is critical. When I talk about patience, I don’t mean sitting on your couch hoping things magically improve.
Real patience in business means:
- Showing up every single day, even when you don’t see results yet
- Doing small tasks consistently instead of looking for one big breakthrough
- Trusting the process even when your bank account says you’re crazy
There’s an old saying: “A jar fills up one drop at a time.” That’s exactly how building a business works. You don’t fill it all at once. You add a little bit every day, and eventually, you look up and realize you’ve built something real.
2. Strong foundations take time (but they’re worth it)
You know why big trees survive storms? Deep roots.
When you first start, you won’t see anything happening above ground. You’ll work harder than people with regular jobs, but earn way less. You’ll question yourself constantly.
This is the root-growing phase. Most people quit here. They want instant results, quick wins, and immediate proof that it’s working.
But if you quit during this phase, you’ll never know what could have grown from those roots.
3. Your third attempt might be your breakthrough
Here’s something interesting about the story of failing and starting a business again: each failure teaches you something the previous attempt couldn’t.
My first failure taught me that excitement isn’t enough—you need actual skills.
My second failure taught me that skills aren’t enough—you need patience and the right timing.
My third attempt? It’s working because I finally combined everything: skills, patience, timing, and the willingness to work without seeing immediate rewards.
Lessons Learned From Business Failure That Changed Everything
Looking back now, here’s what those two failures actually gave me:
- Thicker skin. Criticism doesn’t shake me anymore. I’ve heard it all.
- Realistic expectations. I don’t expect overnight success. I expect years of steady work.
- Better judgment. I can now spot what’s actually important versus what just feels urgent.
- Gratitude for small wins. When a visitor tells me Dream Garden is beautiful, I genuinely appreciate it. I know how much sweat went into every flower bed.
Final Thoughts: How to Build a Successful Business That Lasts
If you’re wondering how to build a successful business, here’s my honest answer: you build it slowly, with patience, through failures and doubts, and exhausting days when you want to quit.
You build it by closing your ears to people who can’t see your vision.
You build it by working when you don’t feel like it, when there’s no money coming in yet, when everyone thinks you’re wasting your time.
You build it one day at a time, believing that eventually, all those small efforts will add up to something meaningful.
I’m not going to tell you it’s easy. It’s not. But I will tell you it’s possible—even after multiple failures.
Especially after multiple failures.
Because sometimes, you need to learn what doesn’t work before you can figure out what does.
Your turn: Have you experienced business failure? Are you thinking about starting again? Share your story in the comments below. Let’s support each other on this journey.
